Cartier will launch Roadster for Men this coming September. The “mineral fougère” fragrance with a “powerful mint note” was named for the Cartier Roadster watch, and was developed by Cartier perfumer Mathilde Laurent, who noted…
It was interesting to work with because it is difficult to make mint play well with other ingredients. The manner of working on it was very Cartier; I used the ingredients as a jeweler uses precious stones…
Before moving on from yesterday’s discussion of Guerlain Shalimar to its newest offspring, Eau de Shalimar, it is worth taking a moment to consider how Shalimar fares in today’s youth-oriented perfume market:
I thought it smelled very “old lady” and not in a good way.
I get the vision of a bleached blond in mommy jeans who doesnt feel she is worth a nice fragrance.
On my skin, this stuff smells like musty old women.
I don’t smell vanilla, I smell a sour, old-fashioned scent that is a bit putrid.
I love fine french perfumes but this stuff is the essence of old age.
Speaking from my lofty position as a perfumista and a bleached blond in mommy jeans…no, seriously, I’m not quoting those remarks1 in order to elicit an onslaught of holier-than-thou perfumista scorn, but simply to acknowledge the truth: to women raised on Clinique Happy and Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue and whatnot, Shalimar might reasonably be compared to, as another reviewer so delicately put it, vomit…
As long as we’re on the subject of tropical beach-y scents, I thought I’d give Ensoleille Moi another try. Ensoleille Moi launched last year as the debut fragrance release from French jeweller André Gas, and like yesterday’s Azuree Soleil, it is composed around coconut and tiare (also known as Tahitian gardenia). It was created by perfumer Mathilde Laurent, and additional notes include ylang ylang, vanilla and white musk…
After their boutique on the Rue de la Paix in Paris re-opens in December, Cartier plans to join Guerlain and Patou in offering a bespoke fragrance program. Start saving your pennies: the cost for a custom fragrance, developed in consultation with Mathilde Laurent, will be around 60,000 euros. (via Women's Wear Daily)